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The DA in the Western Cape welcomes the results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey published today, which showed that the Western Cape has achieved the lowest unemployment rate within South Africa yet again. The Western Cape saw a 2.6 percentage point reduction in unemployment over the last quarter, with the unemployment rate standing at 19.6%. These figures are a reassuring sign that the efforts of the DA-run Western Cape Government are starting to bear fruit, by enabling job creation from the private sector.

The reduction in the Western Cape’s unemployment rate is particularly impressive given that the Western Cape has the fastest growing population within the country. Since the last quarter, the working age population grew by around 19 000, whilst those in employment grew by 75 000. In stark contrast, the other two biggest economies in the country, Gauteng and KZN, saw declines of 66 000 and 2 000 in their employment figures respectively and saw their unemployment rates climb to 34% and 31.2% respectively.

While there is still much work to be done, the breakthrough to below 20% unemployment is extremely encouraging, and the DA remains committed to prioritising job creation wherever we govern. The effectiveness of the Western Cape Government’s Growth for Jobs strategy is coming into focus as the provincial government's drive to make the Western Cape the easiest place to do business in not just South Africa, but on the entire continent.

Issued by Noko Masipa, MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism